Son moving out soon...something like this to get him started?

[Noughtboy]

Hello gents...remember when I used to trawl through here and offer some advice. Assuming @Tetras and some of the regulars still active.

Short story is I am not buying now but planning to over the next three months or so to put together.

My eldest has been awarded a degree apprenticeship with a military contractor starting in August. I assume they bung him a work laptop but I have advised him to do all personal stuff on a personal PC (the security vetting is pretty intense and things are certainly locked down and lets just say I don't believe doing personal stuff on the laptop would be encouraged.)

I am just thinking something comfortable to do uni work on, being able to watch Netflix/Prime in any spare time or some gaming. As for budget, ideally less than the new parts and I will be looking to source some componentry from MM. Just figuring this as a base spec. I know there is no GPU but I will probably upgrade mine (RX480 8GB - don't judge!!!) and put that in...it is absolutely fine for streaming and for 1080p or some 1440p (certainly played what I have chucked at it but then I on not doing A-List stuff).

My basket at OcUK:

 1 x WD Black SN770 2TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (WDS200T3X0E) (SKU: HD-58G-WD) = £104.99
 1 x Corsair Vengeance 32GB EXPO (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C30 6000MHz Dual Channel (SKU: MEM-CRS-02786) = £89.99
 1 x LG 27" 27GS60QC-B 2560x1440 VA 180Hz 1ms A-Sync HDR10 Curved Widescreen Gaming Monitor (SKU: MON-LGC-03340) = £149.98
 1 x Asus TUF Gaming 750W 80 Plus Gold Power Supply (SKU: CA-061-AS) = £80.00
 1 x AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Six Core 5.10GHz  (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DW-AM) = £179.98
 1 x Asus Prime B650M-A WIFI II (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro-ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6K6-AS) = £136.00
 1 x Montech X3 Mesh Midi-Tower RGB Tempered Glass - White (SKU: CA-002-MO) = £49.99

Total: £790.93 (includes delivery: £0.00)​

Chose the VA monitor as it is probably better for movies and should be "OK" for gaming but can switch to IPS for a similar price. He will likely move into a studio so space may be at a premium so figure 27" is about right to watch and sit on a small desk.

Main questions:
The monitor (VA/IPS)? 27" 1440p? (seeing as it can be used for years);
Whether 750w is too fine a margin?
MB - I remember directing people away from Asus Prime after the debacle. Seeing as it is Wifi II wondering if the QC has improved
GPU he can choose to upgrade should he find the need but waiting to see the new round of ARC/AMD releases post CES

Will look on MM during this time to source similar components but this is a guide for your reference.

Many thanks

NB

 

[Tetras]

Whether 750w is too fine a margin?

It should be fine for any 'midrange' xx60/xx70 class card, like a 4070 Super. I'd get a bigger one if a high-end upgrade is a possibility, though it can still handle most.

MB - I remember directing people away from Asus Prime after the debacle. Seeing as it is Wifi II wondering if the QC has improved

The II did quite a lot better than the I in HUB's thermal testing (which was bottom of the chart).

Note that the case you're looking at has a 305mm GPU length restriction.

 

[Pete Tong]

Scam! Lol

 

[tamzzy]

The monitor (VA/IPS)? 27" 1440p? (seeing as it can be used for years);

if there's any thoughts about gaming then get an IPS panel
the smearing on VA panels do not lend themselves well to gaming esp when the framerate drops...will look like a blurry mess
(the only exception to the above are the high-end samsung VA panels)

 

[tamzzy]

MB - I remember directing people away from Asus Prime after the debacle. Seeing as it is Wifi II wondering if the QC has improve

The II did quite a lot better than the I in HUB's thermal testing (which was bottom of the chart).

Still would recommend the Asrock B650M-HDV/M.2 and then getting an intel AX210 after, still works out cheaper than the asus board, whilst having better VRMs

 

[Noughtboy]

It should be fine for any 'midrange' xx60/xx70 class card, like a 4070 Super. I'd get a bigger one if a high-end upgrade is a possibility, though it can still handle most.


The II did quite a lot better than the I in HUB's thermal testing (which was bottom of the chart).

Note that the case you're looking at has a 305mm GPU length restriction.

He is going to be on an apprenticeship salary for four years so anything more than "midrange" is unlikely to happen but I suppose 850w makes more sense if it is one of the 7/10 year warranty one.

if there's any thoughts about gaming then get an IPS panel
the smearing on VA panels do not lend themselves well to gaming esp when the framerate drops...will look like a blurry mess
(the only exception to the above are the high-end samsung VA panels)

I only considered this monitor as it maybe preferable to watch movies on (although my IPS is absolutely fine). However, the LG states 180Hz refresh so I figured smearing would be less of an issue but point taken.

Still would recommend the Asrock B650M-HDV/M.2 and then getting an intel AX210 after, still works out cheaper than the asus board, whilst having better VRMs

Will look at that. Thanks for the heads up. May decide to move up to a more feature rich board seeing as he may get another upgrade or two out on AM5

 

[tamzzy]

so I figured smearing would be less of an issue but point taken

you'd be correct if the gpu pegs the frame rate at 100+, but this will never be the case when gaming, it's the fps dips when the blurriness rears its ugly head
as someone who has used a VA panel for gaming previously...never again

May decide to move up to a more feature rich board

the hdv/m.2 has everything bar pcie gen 5 for the x16 slot
there's really nothing more that's needed except for the epeen willy waving if you're watching the pennies

 

[mickyflinn]

Va if your playing in the dark or low light, IPS for everything else.

 

[Rroff]

Va if your playing in the dark or low light, IPS for everything else.

In my experience VA are very hit and miss and unfortunately you don't really know until you've tried one, even reviews don't even reflect how well someone might actually find any given VA. If buying for someone else I'd lean towards IPS.

I've used plenty of VAs which have grainy weird motion artefacts or struggle with certain colour transitions which you might not notice at first but can't "unsee" once you do and ones which aren't ideal in a variety of usage conditions, but then there are ones like the Philips 436M6 I have which have barely any motion issue and rival an IPS for performance in a range of lighting conditions, etc.

 

[tamzzy]

I've used plenty of VAs which have grainy weird motion artefacts or struggle with certain colour transitions which you might not notice at first but can't "unsee" once you do and ones which aren't ideal in a variety of usage conditions,

or at the more extreme end, the blurriness gives the user "eye strain" and a headache, which i have experienced

If buying for someone else I'd lean towards IPS.

agreed

 

[Perfect_Chaos]

I picked up a new 8 core 7700 for similar a while back.. but no hints

 

[Roughneck]

I recommend this monitor for £20 more. I got it for my 18-year-old: MSI MAG 274PFW 27" 180Hz Adaptive Sync HDR Gaming Monitor - White.

Also the SSD i have that one and its great, just remember to update the firmware as there was some issues with the S770 and windows 11 latest version(if ur using win 11 ofc)

 

[Noughtboy]

I recommend this monitor for £20 more. I got it for my 18-year-old: MSI MAG 274PFW 27" 180Hz Adaptive Sync HDR Gaming Monitor - White.

Also the SSD i have that one and its great, just remember to update the firmware as there was some issues with the S770 and windows 11 latest version(if ur using win 11 ofc)

Thanks but that is 1080p. Would look at the other 1440p IPS panels in that <£180 price range Will check out reviews on HUB or one of the other monitor sites closer to the time.

Thanks for the lowdown on the WD770. Seems to be decent BFB.

 

[mickyflinn]

Thanks but that is 1080p. Would look at the other 1440p IPS panels in that <£180 price range Will check out reviews on HUB or one of the other monitor sites closer to the time.

Thanks for the lowdown on the WD770. Seems to be decent BFB.

Cooler Master GM2711 27" 2560x1440 IPS 180Hz 1ms Freesync Widescreen Gaming Monitor

Order Cooler Master GM2711 27" 2560x1440 IPS 180Hz 1ms Freesync Widescreen Gaming Monitor now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

 

[Roughneck]

Thanks but that is 1080p. Would look at the other 1440p IPS panels in that <£180 price range Will check out reviews on HUB or one of the other monitor sites closer to the time.

Thanks for the lowdown on the WD770. Seems to be decent BFB.

silly me i posted the wrong model, this is the one I ordered

MSI MAG 274QRFW 27" WQHD 180Hz Adaptive Sync HDR IPS Gaming Monitor​

27" MSI MAG 274QRFW Monitor, IPS, 2560x1440, 1ms, 180Hz, Adaptive Sync, HDR, 1000:1, 400cd/m², HDMI/DP​